06 - CHAPTER 4: HOW SIN IS OVERCOME

SIN IS OVERCOME ONLY BY THE INDWELLING CHRIST.

We have now been led into a very definite position in Christian experience. It cannot be doubted that the Bible commands and expects some kind of "perfection," some kind of "holiness," without which no man can see the Lord. But we long to see Him. We long to know, not only about Him, but to know HIM. This holiness cannot possibly be reached by man by his own efforts-no, nor by a man merely "helped" by God. "All our righteousness are as filthy rags" (Isaiah 64:6). But we have seen that Jesus Christ has promised to come and make His abode in our hearts: bringing His own "perfect love" and pure holiness into our very being. When "HE is our LIFE," then we indeed know HIM. "And this is life eternal, that they might know Thee, the only true God, and Jesus Christ Whom Thou have sent" (John 17:3). And Jesus Christ is "perfect love." And perfect love casts out, not only fear, but all sin.

All this we have seen-perhaps for many years. Now it is easy enough to write such things, and-in some sort of way-believe such things. But we want more than that. The question is, "How can I, a struggling sinner, though saved by grace, get this ’perfect love’? How can I get victory over all known sin, and live the Victorious Life?"

WHAT GOD CAN DO

God gives great and open sinners instant victory over great and open sins, and rescues such men from the clutches of such sins. We want to know how WE can get instantaneous deliverance from little sins (so-called). The Loving Saviour and Almighty Redeemer CAN do it, we know-BUT how is it done? This is the most momentous question any Christian man can ask. Most Christians have made many and frequent attempts to get victory over sin: and most of them have failed in the attempt. The great majority of believers reach a certain level in Christian experience, and then gradually slip back to lower levels. Why is this? Is it not probably because their method of attempt was wrong? This is such an important matter that we hope the reader will patiently examine the following criticisms. We say "patiently," because so much will be said which cuts right across the usual advice given to seekers after sanctification. The writer knows full well what he is talking about. He has himself sadly trodden all the paths described, and has tasted both their joys and their sorrows. And today as he looks back, he realises why they failed to lead him into the Victorious Life. THE POPULAR WAY

Fight your temptations. You have accepted Jesus Christ as your personal Saviour, yet you find your sinful passions still remain, and often break out into actual sin. You want victory over those temptations, for tempted we always shall be here on earth. Very well -- make a victorious struggle (by God’s help, or course) against these evil passions and desires, and in this way overcome them. This idea appeals to us, and seems so good and wise. And God does indeed help us to conquer after a determined fight-if our will-power lasts out. The writer has tried it (who has not?), and has often at length gained a victory. But again, he has often tried it only to fail miserably after a struggle: because Satan is stronger than man! The popular way is a doubtful way! Where can you find anything in the Bible to support us in the belief that we are to fight or to struggle with TEMPTATION? We are told to "flee" from sin, from youthful lusts, from idolatry, and such like. Are we ever told to fight TEMPTATION?

If so, where? It is true that St. Paul exhorts us to "fight the good fight"-hut he hastens to add "of faith." Now a "fight of faith" cannot be a struggle. It is true that James said, "Resist the devil" (James 4:7). How? With your hands? Surely not. "Whom resist, steadfast in the faith" (1 Peter 5:9).

We are to "STAND," not struggle. "Having done all things, stand." The shield of FAITH is able to quench all the fiery darts of the evil one (Ephesians 6:1-24). "Faith does nothing; faith lets God do it all."

JESUS CHRIST HAS WON... the victory for us. "I live," says Paul, "yet not I, Christ LIVES IN ME." "Ye are of God," says John, "and have overcome them." How? Why? "Because greater is HE that is IN YOU, than he that is in the world" (1 John 4:4). So we come back to the some theme: The secret of Victory is the Indwelling-Christ. Victory is in trusting, not in trying. "This is the Victory that overcometh the world"-and SIN- "even our faith" (1 John 5:4). A man who tries by strenuous effort to resist or struggle against sin till it is frequently conquered, is said to be "growing in grace." Yet all growth takes place without effort. "No man by taking thought can add one cubit to his stature," said our Lord. And this is true of our spiritual stature.

THEORY AND PRACTICE

How is growth secured? Air, food and exercise insure growth when there is life. If our spiritual life is sustained by the Holy Spirit, within and around us; if it is nourished by Jesus Christ Himself "the bread of God" (John 6:33), it will exercise itself in "good works," and there will be "growth." There is a wondrous "growth in grace"-but there is no growth into grace. Sin hinders this growth, and STRUGGLING against sin cannot help the growth.

Now, this is all theoretical. How does it work out in practice? The writer heard a sermon recently on our Lord’s command, "Be ye therefore perfect." The preacher was a man of holy and humble heart. The gist of the address was that perfection was a thing we were to aim at but never reach. But we could get nearer and nearer to the goal. How? By tackling one sin at a time, subdue it, suppress it. Then another sin was to be resolutely dealt with until at last, some day, all our sins would be mastered. We were told that a piano could not be tuned all at once-a note at a time was taken.

Very well. Have you ever known such a method to succeed? Sin is sin, and all "sins" have their root in SIN in the heart. Sin has been conquered by Christ. Are we to spend our time cutting off branches, or are we to destroy the root of the tree? If Jesus Christ is not able to conquer any known sin in me today, will He be stronger in five months’-or five years’-time? After all is said and done, I can do nothing of myself in the matter. It is Jesus Christ Himself Who gives the victory. All I can do is to look to Christ in faith and let HIM overcome for me. AN ILLUSTRATION WITH A POINT A pick-pocket once strolled into a rescue mission-so the story goes- and was converted. He saw in Christ pardon for his sins and power against them. Rejoicing in a new life, he went on his way planning for the future. "In my unregenerate days," said he to himself, "I used to pick quite twenty pockets a day. But now I am a Christian man, and I know that to pick pockets is to sin. So I must give it up- gradually, of course. Tomorrow I’ll make a start and for the rest of this month by striving and struggling against this sin, I’ll cut it down to five a day- for I’m a Christian man now. By the end of the year by constant endeavour (and the help of God) I hope to give up picking pockets altogether." Do you believe that story? The writer does not. But have we not all been guilty of this very thing in our dealings with bad temper, pride, irritability, jealousy, unlove? We expect a pickpocket, or a drunkard, or a gambler to give up his sin once for all-the very moment of his conversion. We tell him-and tell him truly-that Christ is able to give him complete and instant victory. Is God unable to give us a similar victory over what we deem to be lesser sins? He is able to make us "more than conquerors."

Victory over sin is a gift of God and not a growth. Paul recognised this. He did not say, "Thanks be unto God, which gives us a gradual victory," but "gives us the victory through Jesus Christ our Lord" (1 Corinthians 15:57). There is no such thing as a gradual victory over sin-although we may think there is. God’s gifts are perfect. The fact is, He gives us Jesus Christ Himself to dwell in our hearts by faith. And Jesus Christ keeps us. "He is able to keep us from stumbling" (Jude 1:24). "We know that whosoever is born of God sinneth not," says the Holy Spirit- and He gives the reason-"for He that is begotten of God (Jesus Christ) KEEPETH him, and that wicked one touches him not" (1 John 5:18). Can we trust Christ to do it? An old coloured man in America saw this truth-that is, the wonderful power of the indwelling Christ, and his life became incarnate joy. "So, Sam, you’ve got the mastery of the devil, they tell me?" said a scoffing white man. "No, sah!" replied Sam, "But I’ve got de MASTER of de devil." And is not this what we all want?